Overhead suspension sliding door construction



April 3, 1956 D. L. MocALL 2,740,159

OVERHEAD SUSPENSION SEEDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY D. L. MCCALL April 3, 1956 OVERHEAD SUSPENSION SLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 30, 1953 [MENTON cZz/C/ /1/6' C 'QZ ATTORNEY OVERHEAD SUSPENSION SLIDENG D!! CONSTRUCTIN David L. McCall, Columbus, Ghia Application November 30, 1953, Serial No. 395,179 9 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-19)' This invention relates to sliding door construction, and has particular reference to sliding doors of the type utilizing a plurality of rigid panels which, through the use of associated supporting means, are adapted for relative sliding movement into and out of position of doorway opening and closure.

In my prior application, Serial No. 387,596 led October 22, 1953, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part, I have disclosed a sliding door construction employing a plurality of rigid panel members which are so mounted that when the panel members occupy positions closing an associated doorway, the said members are arranged in the same vertical plane. This enables the outer room-facing surfaces of the panel members when the doorway is closed to be arranged in ush relationship, whereby to present a smooth, uninterrupted outer surface formation which is devoid of vertical shoulders characteristic of conventional sliding doors in which the panel members thereof are supported entirely for movement in laterally oiset planes.

In the construction of the sliding doors as set forth in my prior application, the panel members are mounted for sliding movement through the use, in part, of guide track means mounted on a oor, or other supporting base, of the doorway and with which track means, rollers, carried by the lower portions of the panel members, are engaged for the sliding support of said members. In this construction one of the panel members is mounted on its associated track means for longitudinal sliding movement only in a single vertical plane, while the other panel member is mounted so that in addition and prior to,

it may be moved laterally into and out of the operating plane of the companion panel member mounted only for longitudinal movement. This lateral movement on the part of one of said panel members with respect to the other provides for ush registry of the outer surfaces of the members when the same are disposed in their positions of doorway closure. The arrangement, however, of the track or guide means at the bottom of the panel members, and extending longitudinally across the iioor of the associated doorway, is objectionable in certain installations, for example, in the tendency thereof to collect dust, dirt and other debris which is often diicult to remove and may readily interfere with the desired rolling or sliding movement of the door panels.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved sliding door construction in which vertically positioned, rigid panel members are mounted in the frame of a doorway for relative longitudinal movement between positions of doorway opening and closure, and wherein one of said panel members is mounted so that, in addition to its longitudinal sliding movement, it may be moved to a limited degree in a transverse or lateral direction when out of overlapping registry with its companion panel member, whereby to cause the outer or room-facing surfaces of the panel members,

or at the conclusion of, its longitudinal sliding movement,

States Patent: 0

when the latter assume their positions of doorway closure, to be disposed in ush relative order.

Another outstanding object is to provide a sliding door construction having the features and operating characteristics set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, and wherein the door-forming panel members are vertically suspended for sliding movement from longitudinally extending track-forming guides mounted stationarily in the top of the door frame, instead of on the bottom thereof as heretofore, whereby to enable the floor or base surface of the doorway to be smooth and free nally extending panel guides.

Additional objects are to provide rigid, sliding door panels suspended by roller means from overhead guides; to provide in such door construction means for positively retaining a pair of sliding panels in the same vertical plane when said panels are arranged in side by side order, and wherein said retaining means serve to permit one of said door panels to be moved inwardly and laterally with respect to the other panel, so that the two panels may be disposed in offset relationship with respect to each other, whereby the panels will be enabled to pass each other than independently moved in longitudinal directions; to provide door panels in such a construction with vertically extending beveled meeting edges which are adapted yto be disposed in relative contact when the panels assume positions of doorway closure, the said beveled surfaces serving to produce inward lateral movement on the part of one of said panels with respect to the other of said panels when the latter panel is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement only in connection with overhead supporting guides; to provide adjustable motion-arresting means in association with the laterally movable panel of a twopanel sliding door construction, whereby to obtain controlled registry of the beveled meeting surfaces of the panels; to provide in door construction of the character set forth improved panel-mounting guiding and deflecting means for positively directing a laterally movable panel away from an associated panel which is mounted for sliding Vmovement only, whereby to prevent damaging, rubbing or abrading contact between contiguous surfaces of the panels during relatively overlapping longitudinal movement therebetween; and, finally, to provide sliding door construction of the multiple-panel type which is simple in its construction and operation, may be economically produced, as capable of imparting prolonged operating service without requiring repairs or part replacements, and which comprises generally an improvement in the art to which it relates.

Further objects, advantages and various novel constructional Vfeatures of my invention may be more readily understood through a consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a pair of sliding door panels mounted in accordance with the constructional features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational vieW of the door panels and the improved mounting means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on 'the line 4-4 Vof Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 6 6 and 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view taken along the line l 9-9 of Fig. 3 and showing the beveled vertical meeting of longitudiedges of the door panels and showing the stud-receiving guide channel formed in the bottom edge of the panel limited to sliding movement.

`Fig. is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a modified form of hanger bracket construction for effecting the slidable suspension of the combined laterally and slidably movable door panel.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l through 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that the construction illustrated therein discloses a rectangular doorway l, which may be formed in a vertical wall 2, such as that found in the construction of a residential building, room, a cabinet, closet, cupboard or other similar structure. The doorway is bounded by a frame composed of a pair of spaced, vertical side members 3, a base or tloor 4, and a horizontally extending top member 5, the members 3 and 5 carrying marginal molding strips 3a and 5a, respectively. The doorway is adapted to be opened and closed by means of a pair of vertically arranged, rigid and slidably mounted door panels 6 and 7. The mounting for the panel 6 is such as to permit only of longitudinal movement thereof in a confined course of travel in horizontal directions, while the mounting for the panel 7 is such as to permit the same to be moved not only longitudinally and horizontally, but, in addition, to move inwardly and laterally. Thus, the panel 7 may be moved from its posiiton of doorway closure, in which it is disposed in the same vertical plane as the panel 6, and with its outer surfaces arranged in ush registry with those of the panel 6l, to an inwardly disposed plane of movement in which it is disposed to the rear of the panel 6, so that sliding movement may be imparted independently to either panel in governing the opening and closing of the doorway.

To effect sliding support of each of the door panels a roller-suspension mechanism is utilized, comprising, in this instance, a stationary guide track 8. The latter advantageously may be in the form of an inverted metallic channel beam extending horizontally and longitudinally across the top of the doorway and securely fastened to the fratrie member 5 and 5a. The bottom of the guide track or beam is formed with relatively spaced substantially V- shaped, longitudinaliy extending Webs 9 and 10.

Mounted for rolling movement within the beam 8 on the guide track produced by the web 9 is a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers 11, the V-shaped peripheries of which are formed to iit in the longitudinal channel formed by the transverse coniiguration of the web 9. Each of the rollers 11 is mounted for rotation on a stud axle 12 which projects laterally from the upper end of one of a pair of hanger brackets 13, the lower portions of the latter being secured to the upper part of the panel 6 adjacent to its opposite vertical side edges. By these means the panel 6 is suspended for roliing movement longitudinally in a single vertical plane of travel across the doorway.

In this instance, the lower edge of the panel 6 is formed with a longitudinally extending rabbet or groove 14 in which is positioned the headed upper end of a iloormounted guide stud 15, which constitutes the only upstanding oor projection employed in the slidable mounting of the door panels. The head, however, is small and is so disposed as to be concealed and protected at all times bythe panel 6.

Thev panel 7 is similarly supported for longitudinal movement across the doorway in a horizontal plane disposed to the rear of that of the panel 6. Also, as above indicated, the panel 7 is supported so that in addition to its aforesaid horizontal movement it may be moved to a limited degree in a lateral direction. This is done in order that the panels assume their positions of doorway closure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the same will be disposed in `,the same vertical plane and in edge to edge abutting relationship, with the outer surfaces of saidpanels in flush registry;

In'tfe'ectingsuch-'support of the panel 7, the rear side surface thereof is provided with a stationary transverse bar 16. To this bar there is hinged, as at 17, the lower horizontal edge portion of a mounting plate 18, which, as shown in Figs. l and 2, is arranged adjacent to the rear of the panel 7 and at the upper part thereof. The upper edge portion of the plate 18 carries a pair of xed brackets 19 on which are mounted guiding and supporting rollers 20. The rollers 20 correspond in construction, proportions and function to the rollers 11, the same having their V-shaped peripheral edges disposed in rolling contact with the V-shaped web 10 of the beam, whereby to support the panel 7 for rolling movement longitudinally along the web 10, the brackets 19 being received in the longitudinally extending slot 21 formed by the guide beam 8 between its track flanges 9 and 10.

in view of the foregoing, it will be evident that both panels 6 and 7 are suspended from the beam 8 for horizontal movement, in immediately adjacent vertical planes, across the doorway 1 in controlling the opening and closing of the latter. Because of the suspension afforded by the track beam-carried rollers 11 and the presence of the headed door-mounted 'stud 15 in the groove 14, the door panel 6 is confined for travel or movement in a single vertical plane. The panel 7 on the other hand is hingedly connected as at 17 with its roller-carried plate 18 and as it is free from sliding connection with the oor or base 4, it, in addition to its longitudinal movement, may be moved laterally to a limited extent.

When the panels 6 and 7 occupy their active or full positions of doorway closure the same are disposed relatively in a common vertical plane, as shown in Figs. l,

2 and 5. To move the door panel 7 to a position to the rear of the panel 6, iinger pressure is applied thereto through the socketed handle plate 23 carried by the panel adjacent to the outer vertical side edge thereof. The inner vertical side edges of the panels, as shown in Fig..5, are beveled, as at 22, so that these beveled edges overlap when the panels close the doorway. 1n this instance, the upper horizontal edge of the panel 7, as shown in Fig. 7, carries a metallic strap 24 which terminates at its inner end in a beveled nose 25. The nose 25, when the panels are in their full positions of doorway closure, contacts the circumferential portion of a roller 26 carried by a bracket plate 27, which is stationarily positioned on the upper horizontal edge of the panel 6 adjacent to the inner beveled edge 22 thereof. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, the lower inner edge portion of the panel 6 carries an angularly projecting fixed bracket 28 von which is mounted a roller 29, the latter being disposed for contact with an inwardly and angularly arranged extension 38 of a positioning plate 31 carried by the inner and lower portions of the panel 7.

Through these means, when manual forces are applied to move the panel 7 from its position of doorway closure, the engagement of the beveled nose portion 25 of the strap 24 with the roller 26 of the panel 6 causes the panel 7, during such initial travel toward an open position, to move inwardly as well as longitudinally. When in an open position the panel 7 occupies the position shown by dotted line in Fig. 7. The panel 7 when laterally displaced from its iiush-iitting closed position by the roller 26 during opening movement thereof tends to hang from its rollers 20 away from the panel 6, thereby preventing rubbing or abrading of the when the latter are moved in their relative overlapping l positions.

guided course of travel independently of and out of rubbing or othercontact with the panel 7 to a position adjacent surfacesof the panels the nose 2S, to be displacedl fully opening the side of the doorway which it normally closes. It will be noted that when the panels are restored to their flush-fitting positions rf closure after having been opened, the contacting of the roller 29 carried by the panel 6 with the angular extension wing 30 of the panel 7 causes the panel 7 to move outwardly to bring the panels into fiush engagement along the edges 22.

As shown in Fig. 10, in lieu of employing the relatively extended plate 1%, I may use a pair of elongated metallic straps i851, which have their lower ends hinged, as at 17a, to the panel 7 and their upper ends extended at 19a to support the track-engaged rollers 20.

The inner or inwardly moving panel 7 is provided preferably with a longitudinally adjustable doorVframe-engaging stop bar 32, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. This bar may be employed advantageously in adjusting the extent of doorway-closing movement of the panel 7, governing registration of the beveled edges 22 of said panels.

ln View of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a structurally simple, yet highly efficient sliding door construction characterized by an overhead suspension which results in an associated neat, unobstructed base or floor surface devoid of unsightly, debris-trapping channels or guides. Further, the present sliding door panel construction provides for fiush fitting of the separate door panels when the latter occupy their positions of closure, thus imparting a smooth, uninterrupted appearance on their outer surfaces.

l claim:

l. Slidable doorwaypening and closing means, cornprising: a pair of vertically disposed inner and outer rigid panel members, said members being disposed in flush relationship and in the same vertical plane when in positions of doorway closure and with the inner of said members disposed at the rear of the outer member when said members occupy positions of doorway opening; guide means stationarily mounted on an associated door frame defining the door way controlled by said members, said guide means occupying a position above said members, said guide means providing a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending inner and outer roller tracks, roller-equipped hanger devices engaged at their upper ends with the outer track and joinedat their lower ends with the outer of said panel members to suspend the latter for rolling longitudinal movement from said outer track; means limiting the outer panel member to longitudinal movement in the vertical plane occupied thereby; roller equipped, laterally tiltable and longitudinally movable hanger means engaged with and depending from the inner of said tracks; and means hingedly uniting the laterally rcckable lower part of said hanger means with the inner of said panel members at a single position substantially midway of the height thereof to provide for both longitudinal and lateral movement of said inner panel member in free suspension from said inner track.

2. Door construction comprising a frame defining a doorway; rigid vertically disposed first and second panel members movable across said doorway to open and close the same; longitudinally and horizontally extending panelsupporting and guiding means secured to said frame and extending across the top of said doorway, said guide means providing a pair of transversely spaced inner and outer track-forming flanges; roller-carrying means engaged with the outer of said anges and connected with the first of said panel members and suspending the latter for longitudinal sliding movement across said doorway in a single confined vertical plane; roller-carrying suspension means engaged with the inner of said track fianges and from which the second panel member is suspended for longitudinal sliding movement across said doorway in a vertical plane disposed immediately to the rear of the plane of movement of the first panel member; means pivotally joining said second panel member with its suspension means in a manner admitting of lateral movement of the second panel member in addition to its longitudinal movement; and beveled means cooperative with said panel members to produce lateral movement of said second panel member to displace the latter inwardly from a position of doorway closure, in which the second panel member is disposed in the same vertical plane and to one side of that of the first panel member, when said panel members are initially moved relative to each other toward positions of doorway opening.

3. Door construction as defined in claim 2, and wherein the panel members are formed with beveled vertical edges adapted to be disposed in relatively overlapping order when said panel members occupy their positions of doorway closure, n which positions the same are disposed in the same vertical plane with their outer surfaces arranged in flush registry.

4. Door construction as defined in claim 2, and wherein the panel members are formed with beveled vertically extending edges which are disposed in inter-engaging overlapping relative order when said panel members occupy positions of doorway closure and in which the same are disposed in the same vertical plane, and stop means adjustably carried by the second of said panel members for engagement with said door frame to control the registry of the beveled edges of said panel members when the same are in positions of doorway closure.

5. Door construction as defined in claim l, and wherein said inner panel member is provided on one side thereof with a metallic member formed with a beveled face, and antifriction means carried by the outer panel member for engagement with the beveled face of said metallic member to produce inward movement of the inner panel member when said panel members are moved initially from their positions of doorway closure toward positions of doorway opening, whereby to locate the inner panel member in a plane disposed to the rear of that of the outer panel member during longitudinal sliding movement of said panel members.

6. Sliding door construction comprising: a frame formed to define a substantially rectangular doorway; rigid vertically disposed first and second panel members slidably movable across said doorway to open and close the same; stationary track devices secured to said frame and extending across the top of said doorway; roller means carried by the upper part of the rst of said panel members to suspend the latter for sliding movement in a single vertical plane from said track device; rollercarrying bracket means flexibly connected with the second of said panel members to suspend the same from said track device for longitudinal movement across said doorway in a vertical plane disposed to the rear of the plane of movement of said first panel member, said bracket ward lateral movement.

7. Sliding door construction as defined in claim 6, and wherein the lower edge regions of said panel members are formed with beveled inter-engaging means operative when said members are moved to full positions of doorway closure to retain relatively contacting portions of said members in positive engagement.

8. Slidable doorway-opening and closing means, comprising: a frame defining a doorway; rigid vertically disposed first and second vertically disposed door panels movable across said doorway to open and close the same; transversely spaced longitudinally extending parallel and horizontally extending track-forming guides stationarily mounted on said frame at the top of said doorway; a

plurality of relatively short hanger members rigidly carried by the first of said panels at the top thereof, said members being provided with antifriction means mounted for longitudinal movement on a rst of said guides and from which said rst door panel is suspended; means cooperative with the lower edge portion of said iirst panel to retain the latter against lateral movement with respect to the guide from which it is suspended; relatively elongated hanger means for the second of said door panels; antifriction means carried by said elongated hanger means and engaged with the second of said guides for longitudinal movement along and lateral tilting motion with respect to the same; hinge means connecting; the lower portion of the elongated hanger means directly to the back of said second door panel at a position substantially midway of the height thereof to admit of lateral movement of the second panel in enabling the same to occupy during longitudinal movement thereof a second plane of op` eration in which the second panel is disposed to the rear of the first panel; and interengaging bevel-surface means carried by said panels and operative to displace said second panel inwardly to position the same in otfset planes when forces are applied to either of said panels when the same occupy flush positions of doorway closure in moving the panels longitudinally.

9. Slidable door construction comprising a wall frame defining an access opening; a stationary guide track carried by and extending longitudinaliy of said doorway over the top thereof; a rigid door panel movably suspended from said track for longitudinal and transverse movement with respect to said opening, whereby to enable said panel to occupy an outer plane when in its position of closure and an inner plane when undergoing movement to a position providing access through said opening; a substantially vertically disposed hanger device arranged rearwardly of said panel; means hingng the lower portion of said device to the rear of said panel at a positionsubstantially midway of the height of the panel; vertically disposed roller means carried by the upper end of said hanger device and engaged with said track for longitudinal movement along the latter when said panel is moved between positions of opening and closure, said roller means further being laterally tiltable on said track to yield with said hanger device when the door panel is moved laterally between its outer and inner planes of operation; and bevel-surface means cooperative with said panel to produce lateral displacement thereof upon movement from normal position of closure toward a posi- 20 tion providing access through said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,336 Mulligan Ian. 23, 1894 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,466 Great Britain May 28, 1937 Rutherford June 8, i954 

